ST. CROIX — The V.I. Police Department is investigating as a homicide the death of a man who was found partially covered with a sheet at his residence in Estate Whim, the V.I.P.D. told the Consortium late Tuesday. The incident was reported to the 911 Emergency Call Center as a suicide, but an investigation into the matter did not provide conclusive evidence that the fatal wound was self-inflicted.

According to police spokesman Glen Dratte, on Sunday at 4:46 p.m. the 911 Emergency Call Center dispatched Wilbur Francis Command units to a possible suicide at a residence in Estate Whim. Upon arrival, the father of the victim was interviewed and stated that he had spoken to son on Saturday at 2:30 p.m., and that his son said he was not feeling well. The father said this response prompted him to get some medication for his son at about 3:00 p.m. He further told police that it was the last time he saw his son.

Then on Sunday at about 4:46 p.m., the father said he went to check on his son and found him dead with a gunshot wound to the head. The victim was observed lying on his back with his body partially covered with a sheet, according to the V.I.P.D.

The victim was identified by next of kin as Michael Peterson, age 31, according to the V.I.P.D.

The V.I.P.D. said a canvass was made in the neighborhood in an effort to determine when the gunfire occurred and whether there was any unusual activity around or near the victim’s residence, however those efforts yielded negative results.

Sunday’s homicide was the first of two that occurred this week. The other killing occurred in Barren Spot Monday evening, when a 21-year-old man was shot to death while washing a car in his yard.

The V.I.P.D. is seeking the community’s assistance to determine when the gunfire occurred or whether anyone noticed unusual movement near the deceased victim’s residence prior to police arriving to the scene. You may provide any information you know anonymously to Crime Stoppers USVI through this link.

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